Hi! I’m Lena, 25 years old, from Germany and I just started my Erasmus in Bologna, Italy. Most people I know hopped on a quick plane. I decided to take the more adventurous, scenic and sustainable route by train. Why? Mostly because I care about sustainability, partly because airports give me hives (security lines, lost luggage, crying toddlers). But mostly because I wanted my Erasmus to start with a bit of an adventure.
The long way south
At first, it sounded a little crazy. Trains are slower, less straightforward and sometimes more complicated to plan. But for me, the choice wasn’t just about getting from point A to point B, it was about how I wanted to begin this new chapter of my life. I wanted my journey to reflect the values I care about: sustainability, mindfulness and the idea that Erasmus is not just about arriving somewhere new, but also about what you learn on the way. My route was anything but linear. First, I took three regional trains for about 4 hours to reach my friend's home, where I stayed for one day before continuing my journey. Then I hopped on another regional train for 30 minutes, caught the ICE in Germany (2 hours) and finally boarded the RegioJet from Munich directly to Bologna (6,5 hours).
Why I skipped the plane
If I had flown, I would’ve had to take a long transfer to the airport, arrive two hours early, wait for boarding and then wait again for my luggage. Ironically, the train ended up being not only more sustainable but also more efficient in terms of stress. No endless security checks, no running through terminals, no wondering if my backpack would get lost somewhere along the way. One of the biggest surprises? How much the slow pace made me feel the reality of what was happening. When you fly, the transition is so quick that you barely process it: one moment you’re in your home city, the next you’re somewhere else entirely. With the train, I had hours to realise: I’m actually going abroad. I’m leaving my familiar life behind and stepping into something new for the next couple of months. Along the way, I also spotted cities like Verona and Trento, which immediately went on my list of places to visit during my Erasmus. Seeing them from the train window felt like a teaser trailer for the adventures ahead.
Why it mattered personally
Somewhere between the German countryside and the Italian Alps, I realised something important: this wasn’t just about reducing my carbon footprint (although that mattered too). It was about starting Erasmus in a way that matched the mindset I wanted for the months ahead. Travelling slowly forced me to slow down emotionally. It gave me space to reflect, to plan and to arrive in Bologna feeling prepared rather than rushed. The moment I rolled my suitcase out of Bologna Centrale, sweaty but smiling, I felt grounded.
Why it mattered environmentally
When it comes to sustainable travel, the choice of transportation makes a huge difference. A direct return flight from Berlin to Bologna in economy class causes around 0.19 tonnes of CO2e, while taking the train for the same distance results in only about 0.01–0.02 tonnes of CO2e. That means the train journey produces nearly ten to twenty times less emissions than flying. To put it into perspective: the CO2 saved is roughly the same as what 9–18 trees absorb in a whole year, or as much as driving a car 1,200–1,500 kilometres. You could also imagine it as avoiding the release of about 180 giant balloons full of CO2 into the atmosphere, or my savings equal roughly the methane burps of one cow over a few months. So instead of adding another cow’s worth of gases into the air, I kept things a little fresher for the planet. Not bad for just trading wings for rails, right?
What I would recommend to other Erasmus students who want to travel green
If you’re about to do Erasmus, I would say: try the train at least once. You’ll travel greener, and Mother Earth will probably send you a thank-you card. You’ll also collect way more funny stories, like the time I ended up asking strangers for toothpaste, because I felt the need to brush my teeth. The views will give you bonus travel inspiration, like I already have a whole weekend trip list just from what I saw out the window.
Reflections: Green Travel as the best start to Erasmus
Looking back, skipping the plane wasn’t just about eco-friendly travel. It was about giving myself the space to start Erasmus in a way that felt meaningful. The train ride didn’t just take me to Bologna, it gave me stories, reflections, small talks with strangers and the calm to arrive ready for the adventure ahead. Sustainable travel may take longer, but it also gives you something a plane never will: the chance to begin your Erasmus already learning, noticing and connecting.
